Expert questions some of the survey methods but acknowledges homelessness percentage of student population appears high
At the January 28, 2025, Governing Board meeting, Yavapai Community College economist and data analytics expert Ryan Jones presented an analysis of a recent HOPE survey that showed the percentage of homeless students within the College’s student population. According to the survey—produced by Temple University and distributed to participating colleges, including Yavapai Community College—six percent of Yavapai’s student body reported experiencing homelessness at some point in the past year.
Jones described the figure as “startling and significantly higher than . . . the national or state level.” By comparison, he noted that the national homeless population is approximately one-quarter of one percent of the overall population.
Jones expressed guarded skepticism about the survey’s methodology. “I’m not 100% confident in how the survey frames its questions,” he said, adding that some of the wording appears to be leading rather than neutral.
During the Governing Board discussion, it was noted that many of Yavapai’s students tend to come from less affluent families in the community. Consequently, the student survey may not accurately reflect the percentage of homelessness in the county.
Regardless of the potential weaknesses of the survey, which was self-reported, the overall conclusion appeared to be that a significant percentage of students felt they had been homeless in one way or another during the past year.
If you follow the link posted below, you will find a video clip of some of the discussion at the Board meeting on this topic. It is more detailed than the summary above.
LINK https://app.screencast.com/OjoWj6n0OOdx8